Goin to Town 1941

Jackson Lee Nesbitt made this print, Goin’ to Town, using engraving, and it's like stepping into a memory. The grey tones create a somber mood, but also a sense of nostalgia. Look at the way the lines are etched to build up the image – the density of marks creates the dark areas, almost like a swarm of tiny insects. This process of layering and mark-making becomes visible. It reminds me that art is fundamentally about decisions; each line, each stroke. The overall feel of the piece, with its careful cross-hatching and attention to texture, gives the scene a sense of depth and dimension, despite the muted tones. There’s a sense of Edward Hopper here, with a similar exploration of urban life. Art is a conversation, right? We see echoes of other artists, other times, adding layers to the dialogue.